Sugar cane changed societies politically because it played a big role in the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
Sugar production provided the motivation for European expansion, colonisation and control in the new world.
BeginningThe triangle trade is responsible for it all, Britain's booming economy and the ending result of the Revolutionary War. Before sugar was introduced to England, the government had no means of business in that industry, but once it got sugar, it never went back. All around Europe countries were making fortunes off of sugar cane products and trading goods and slaves, so the importance of the crop to the region was very high, especially in England. Little did they know that when they first got hooked into the sugar business, it would effect their futures in the world map forever. Who would've ever guessed that a controversy between the American colonies and the Kingdom of Britain over the Stamp Act of 1765 would somehow connect to the innocent plant, sugar cane.
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AftermathAside from the fact that Britain was essentially fighting this war on their own - being ganged up on - their strong feelings for controlling their sugar wasn't exactly an advantage in the battle. Some say that England spending too much time and effort protecting their beloved crops and not enough protecting itself as a country. Before 1775, Britain had control over 13 American colonies and had some spread out world power. Its military was busy guarding their sugar islands while their country was in danger of being wiped out completely against a whole string of strong opponents. The African slaves on sugar plantations outnumbered the few British land owners by a landslide, giving America a huge advantage. Experts believe that the outcome of the war would've turned out much differently if the British forces had been more focused on winning their battle than keeping their crops.
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